Review: Van Brunt Stillhouse Bourbon, and two honorable mentions

DISCLAIMER: The Sample for this review was provided by the manufacturer. All ideas and opinions in this post are entirely my own. I do not accept any money for these reviews.

Color: Burnished Copper

Nose: Pepper, Vanilla, Corn, Cinnamon, and Oak

Taste: Corn, Vanilla, Spice, and Oak

Finish: Long Fruit finish with cherry, oak and hints of vanilla

Score:
Rick- 8.5/10.0
Sam- 8.5/10.0
Overall- 8.5/10.0

A northern Bourbon? From New York? In Brooklyn!!! Yes, it’s all true. The Folks at Van Brunt Stillhouse are producing a lot more than just Bourbon though. They also have an American Whiskey and a Single Malt, the first wasn’t great, and the latter wasn’t Scotch. I know, I am kind of a whiskey snob. Every time I see single malt I think Scotch, and every time I am disappointed. It isn’t their fault, I’m just a bit biased. By all means give the American and the Single malt a try. I just don’t feel I could do a write up on them that would do them justice. They also make a rye, which I didn’t get, but I will be on the lookout for.

Back to the Bourbon. This is a wheated bourbon, made with 65% organic New York corn. The wheat really shine though lending this Bourbon a sweet profile. When first poured it has a very spicy pepper aroma, but if you swirl it it your glass it open up beautifully. The vanilla and corn come forward pushing past the pepper, the cinnamon and oak seem to mix with the pepper. Not the most complex nose, but the swirl needed to open it up is different.

With all that peppery nose I was expecting this to have some kick, but sadly it was quite understated. The sweetness of the wheat pushed its’ way to the front followed by the vanilla, and left the pepper just barely coming through. The oak was still there but the cinnamon that was on the nose never made an appearance. I wasn’t dismayed by the flavor at all though, it was really good. I would rather that the nose and the taste be a bit more synchronous.

The finish was a bit oaky, and the pepper came back in to play a bit which I found very satisfying. It gave this a bit of bite on the way down, that I wasn’t expecting. Not the kick that I love, but just enough to push it a little higher than I would have otherwise rated it.

I won’t say this is one for the shelf. Not enough complexity. I would not turn it down and if it was a choice between this and beer I’d definitely choose this. If you have had it let us know, we’d love to hear your thoughts on it.